Use of a Cable Modem, Netgear RP614 4-port router & APX 54 mbps

Thank you for replying. I will try to implement your advice asap. I have questions though. In order to use the AirPort Admin Utility (AAU) to configure the AEBS, I've got to plug the AEBS into the modem and then the router, correct?

One of my concerns was whether the 4-port router has just not enough port space. If I plug the AEBS into a LAN port, one piece of equipment is going to get kicked off the LAN, correct?

Also, as a related issue, I am also going to make sure that our privacy is not breached. I have pasted here some discussion I found on the Technolawyer list and if you have any input to share, please do:

..."WEP is easily cracked and can be read in real time by anyone.
For information on how to crack WEP and how to protect your
WLAN, please see the many articles at
<http://www.smallnetbuilder.com> (formerly Tom'sNetworking).
There's even a demonstration by a few FBI Special Agents
cracking a WEP encrypted, wireless router's transmission in
minutes"...

..."The WPA2-AES encryption protocol is the latest and best. For
firms with access to IT support, there's a WPA2 Server
available. I use a 63 character string (i.e., encrypted at
much more than 128 bits) with my WPA2 encryption, and I
haven't noticed any degredation in speed. Very secure. Per
FIPS, AES is the U.S. Government's new encryption standard,
though the triple DES algorythm is still acceptable for a
few more years"...

..."Unchecking the box in your router's guts (connect your
router and type 192.168.1.1 into your browser, which should
take you to the router's set-up screen) for SSID broadcast
will not protect you from anyone but an absolute amateur,
and they're becoming harder and harder to find. Sniffers
like Air Magnet and KISMET will easily detect your router's
wireless broadcast, even if you've disabled the broadcast of
the router's SSID"...

..."Take a look at a privacy organization -- e.g., IAPP.com
<http://www.iapp.com> (International Association of Privacy
Professionals) -- for more leads. Type WPA2 or WPA-2 into
Google and read more about the latest wireless encryption
protocol. Also, go to IPhantom.com
<http://www.iphantom.com>. They have a great device for use
in conjunction with an Access Point. The IPhantom device,
which is a piece of hardware, encrypts your traffic using
the AES algorythm at either 128 or 256 bit strength"...

By the way, would your suggested setup allow me (wirelessly) to share files with the macs on the ethernet?

So, are you saying that I need only plug in the electrical power to the AEBS, and the Macbook will find the AEBS, surf the web and share files with the wired macs? Do I understand you correctly? Please help me if I don't.

How is this secure? How can I make sure that only myself and the other users have access and use of the signal & data?

The system as you had me set it up works. Thank you!. A last worry remains. My printer/all-in-one (HP Photosmart C6180) has a wireless setup utility that requires the input of the access point's name and WAP password. That is ok, but I was able to enter the password in the clear & I wonder if this point in the network is vulnerable because perhaps (perhaps I'm paranoid) that password can somehow be harvested by a sniffer of sorts.

I needed to connect wirelessly because I only had 4 ports on the router. Before the AEBS, there were 3 computers & the printer via ethernet. Once I plugged the router into the AEBS WAN port, I had to use the wireless printer connection.

Does this mean the password (the proverbial cat) is out of the bag? Was my exposure for that moment only? How do I make sure that all of my connections are secure? I don't want our privacy violated only to maybe find out too late. Do you know of any number of reliable ways to test the network? I've had bad experiences with hackers (& viruses, etc on Windows 2000 Server when I used to run that) & from what I can see, minus the viruses, the mac is just as easy a security target from someone with the right skills taking advantage of the right opportunity.

Thanks for sharing your knowledge on this.

I have relaxed a bit. Are you sure there is no way to really know if your wireless connection is monitored? There are plenty of tools to eavesdrop and monitor, (see for example JiWire's paper @ http://www.jiwire.com/whitepaper-section1.htm. If a diligent snoop can log your keystrokes, your passwords are easly compromised. Could it be there are no tools to spot monitoring?
I came over to the mac world gradually & have enjoyed it. Although working with a mac is a pleasure, especially compared to what it was like in windows, people still need to protect themselves. People protecting as much of their privacy as possible is a good thing.